Davey was right about the rain. After a short yet hard shower, it had died down and the sun was already out and drying up the puddles. Copper took in a deep breath, smelling the rainy smell all around her, as she stepped out the door of the lodging house and onto the steps. Splashing nonchalantly into a puddle, her pants were instantly wet again. Davey chuckled lightly at her, and then pulled her away from her splashing fun.
Soon, as they almost always usually did, separate conversations began to take form. Mush was hanging all over Cone, (Wait. Strike that, reverse it) all the while whispering sweet nothings into her ear. Davey and Copper were talking a mile a minute like the chums they were. July was swinging her arms around, distractedly as she thought about her evil plan, and Clink was sidestepping puddles amidst her yodeling.
"Yodalayeeoo!" Clink cupped her hands around her mouth, yelling above the heads of her friends and beyond. "Yodalaaaay!"
"Clinkers!" July yelled to get her friend's attention, "Stop da matin' calls! Pie Eatah ain't heah!" Clink stopped in her tracks long enough to whack her friend on the back of the head. No damage was done, though. It is hard to crack open a head that has already done so, long ago. ((AN: how true that is!))
Mush grinned, turning to Cone, who was holding onto the crook of his arm. She was staring up at him with a dreamy look in her eye. "Gee, dey shoah are slap happy!" He remarked, motioning towards July and Clink who were taking turns yelling and slapping each other with various objects. Cone just laughed and patted Mushy-baby on the back, while pulling him across the street to Tibby's.
"And that is when Sarah fell down the stairs to the apartment building and broke her collar bone." Davey summed up for Copper. He smiled at her and then pulled his cap down even further onto his tight curls. He had been explaining why Jack hadn't been around his little love toy lately. Besides the obvious reasons, of course.
"You wanna talk 'bout matin' calls, Jules?" Clink asked with a menacing tone in her voice, as she put her hands on her hips. "Or do ya wanna grab some moah booty from da mutt?" July let out a protesting cry and then slapped Clink with her hat.
"Dat ain't even funny, chicken!" She yelled, despite the fact that she was laughing. Clink giggled insanely and then slapped her back with her own hat. Oh the joy of slap happy people.
"Oh. I see." Copper said to Davey, as she twisted a loose seam on the bottom of her shirt. "An' dats why she's at da hospital?"
Davey blushed slightly, shaking his head, as he veered is eyes away from her. "Well, there were some other reasons."
"I hate that boy! Ya heah me?! I HATE HIM!" It was obvious that the group had a newcomer in their mists. A very loud on, at that.
"Heyas, Pearl!" Cone called before she was whisked through the doors of the restaurant by Mush. Pearl hardly noticed the call before she stormed up to July and Clink, who seemed not to be occupied at the time by a evil boy.
"You a wha, huh?" Clink asked Pearl as she rubbed the numerous red spots that were forming on her arms.
Pearl sighed and threw her hands up above her head. "BOOTS!" She declared as if it was the most obvious reason in the world. July and Clink looked at each other; both wondering what in the name of fish sticks had happened to make Pearl so mad at poor, little "innocent" Boots.
"Oh, boy. That was at the tip of my tongue for an answer." July joked with a grin.
"Uh huh, sure." Pearl rolled her eyes in return, putting her tightly made fists on her hips.
Clink looked around them, noting the fact that Copper, Davey, Mush, AND Cone had deserted them. Couples were just weird like that. Then again, Davey and Copper weren't exactly couples. At least... that is what THEY said.
"So, what happened wit' Boots?" Clink asked, turning back to the deranged one that was now blowing smoke out of her nostrils.
Pearl rolled her eyes again. "I don't wanna talk 'bout dat... dat... JOIK!"
"Whatevah floats ya boat," July said with a shrug "Lets go eat, I'se starvin!" She turned quickly to the building which was Tibby's, and then practically ran both Pearl and Clink over to get into the restaurant where food was ready to be sacrificed.
"It's a good t'ing dat she's not in da mood foah chicken." Clink giggled towards her fellow chum who was standing in a cloud of dust that July had left behind.
"Or Pearls!" Pearl said with a bright grin. Clink just nodded uncertainly and then entered the room soon after July. Tibby's was dark, lighted only by a small series of light bulbs and the sun that was streaming through the windows. Smoke from cigars and cigarettes flooded their visions slightly as they peered around, taking in all of the familiar and unfamiliar faces. This was the life: no worries, no responsibilities... and no Spot Conlon. Or at least, that is what they thought.
"Den DATS when I said ta him: 'Ya ain't gunna pick on me, none! Ya know who I am?'" Jack boasted in a nearby booth to a halfway asleep Trapper and Les. "An' da odder guy said..."
"'You'se dat joik from Manhattan!'" Les burst out, finishing for his hero. Jack threw him a look across the booth that would have made milk spoil. Trapper chuckled softly to herself, covering her mouth slightly so that Jack wouldn't hear her. Sure, he was beyond cute, but boy his stories were just so... so...
"Couldn't you think of any NEW stories, Jack?" Davey asked, all of a sudden appearing next to the small group. Without even seeing him, Trapper could tell that he was joking around with his buddy. "I've heard this one a trillion times! And every time it changes." He pointed out with a grin. Copper and him walked up to the booth, Copper taking a place next to Trapper and Davey sliding in next to Les and Jack. Trapper noticed a very love sick couple, which just so happened to be Mush and Cone, were practically falling over each other to get to a booth all the way in the DARK section of the restaurant. She wished she was back there. She noticed wearily as Cone and Mush began to share certain things that couples do. Saliva. Maybe it was a good thing she wasn't back there. 'Den again...' she looked up at Jack.
"Yah, well you'se da foist to complain, Mouth!" Jack responded with a smirk.
Copper rolled her eyes. "If I have ta hear any moah of dis male bonding, I'll feel left out." She commented, casting her eyes onto Davey's, which seemed to be a reflex by now. She sort of felt like hitting herself to make it stop.
"I'se roight along witcha on dat one." Trapper agreed, sipping on her saspirilla, which just so happened to be spiked with something. What, she had no clue.
"Les! What are you doing here?" Questioned the worried older brother, as he removed Les' wooden sword from the table. 'Sometimes I swear that I found this boy in a garbage can one day.' He thought sourly to himself. "Aren't you supposed to be with mamma?"
Jack shrugged. "I sprung him from da joint, Davey." He explained, putting a protective arm around the younger boy. Davey muttered something about Les being a tag along, and then noticed Copper staring off into space in his direction. He tried to avert his eyes, but he found it hard for some reason. "So, uh," Davey stumbled, trying to change the subject. "How was your day in the shop, Trapper?"
The girl's wild green looked up at Davey. "Who, me?" She asked kidding. Davey opened his mouth to retort, but she interrupted him. "WELL, it was a helluva day since dere was dis really hairy guy gettin' his haih cut. I tell ya, it was scary. I t'ought he was dis gorilla someone found in deir apartment at foist! An' a coise I got ta clean up da floah aftah him." She shuddered in remembrance, stealing a glance over to Jack, who was leaning his head against the window, pretending to snore with boredom. Trapper repaid him by kicking him in the shin under the table. She was going to yell at him for some odd reason (hey, he deserved it for being a jerk) when she saw a familiar face coming through the door.
"JULY!" She grinned, waving madly to catch her friend's attention. July looked up at her and smiled broadly, before heading over to the far end of the bar for a drink. She needed one. Badly. Trapper shrugged and then saw the door open again, this time Pearl and Clink bounded through the door.
"Pearl! Clink! Hi!" She waved over at them, shaking the table along with her. Pearl waved back listlessly, while Clink grinned and saluted to both Copper and Trapper, as she walked quickly over to the bar.
"Heyas, Buggy!" She grinned at Boogay, the usual guy who ran the bar. "Gimme a... pina colada!" She declared slamming her palm onto the hard wood.
The man laughed in her face and shook his head, turning away from the annoying little girl who liked coconut just a little too much, to continue his job of washing glasses.
"Bite me." Clink smirked at his back, whirling around on her little swirling seat that was attached the to bar. "Woo!"
Pearl sat down heavily next to her in another stool, making her look up.
"You okay?" Clink asked concerned, still spinning. She had to crane her neck so that she could look her friend in the eye.
"Yah. I just had some bad luck. Dats all." Pearl stated shrugging.
"Why, what happened?" A tall girl asked, her blond hair in curls down her back, as she walked up to the pair. The girl's, Daphne, blue eyes shone with excitement as she sat down on the opposite side of Clink. She kept her attention slightly focused on the discussion and even so more on the door, knowing that Dutchy could enter at any time. And heaven forbid that she missed him! ((AN: *gasps of shock*))
"Heyas Daph!" Clink waved slightly, still spinning round and round. "Ah, she had some little t'ing wit' Boots goin' on..."
"T'ING!?" Daph asked, shocked, sitting down next to Clink.
Pearl laughed suddenly, the look on Daph's face suddenly cheering her up. "Not like dat! I just lost real bad at marbles."
Clink stopped her spinning, feeling slightly woozy. "Marbles? You'se mad cause a marbles?!" She demanded, blinking her eyes so that she could focus on Pearl.
"Well, yah! I boasted ta him at how good I was. Den da next t'ing I know, we'se bettin' on it, an' he cleaned me out! Da little skunk he is." Pearl muttered, tearing napkins into little bits. The three watched attentively as the pieces floated to the floor.
"HEY! Stop makin' a mess in me restaurant!" Tibby yelled from the back room, seeing how Pearl was taking her anger out on paper.
Daphne sighed. "Blow it outcha..."
"WHAT was dat, Daphne?!" Tibby demanded, slightly furious.
"I said 'BOY dat sauerkraut is... uh... sauery." Daph muttered, blushing slightly. There were collective giggles and hoots in the room, most of it from Mush in the back. Cone had to hit the boy to quiet him.
July sighed frustratingly. "C'mon, man!" She pleaded with one of the waiters, Wally. "You always gave me some booze b'foah!" She complained, pounding her angry fist on the back of her chair.
Wally chuckled, wiping down a counter. 'Dese kids don't know when ta stop," he thought. "July. Honey. You have a drinking prob." There, he had said it to the poor girl. Hopefully she would take the hint and leave him the he...
"I DO NOT!" July practically screamed, forcing people around her to look up from their businesses to stare at her awkwardly. "I mean," She said softer then before "I just need somet'in now. Just a little some'tin!" At any moment now, she felt that she had to get on her knees to beg the guy. 'What a gyp!! I'se one a deir best customers!'
"Well, you aren't getting it." Wally answered smartly, turning around and heading into the kitchen. July waited a minute before sobbing dramatically and banging her forehead into the table in front of her. Life was so unfair.
Clink sighed loudly, folding her hands behind her back and stretching. "Well," She said to Pearl. "I wouldn't be so upset. Ya both can't play marbles foah beans." She laughed, laying her head lightly on the counter in front of her.
"You'se insultin' me skills?!" Pearl demanded from her, puffing out her chest defiantly.
"Yah, I am!" Came the answer. Daphne grinned and sipped at her cola, her blue eyes averting back to the door. 'Wheah is he?!' Her brain screamed.
"Well, lets get dis on!" Pearl exclaimed loudly, standing up next to her swirling chair. Clink stood up next to her, mock-glaring at her with her hands placed firmly on her hips. Actually, UP at her. Being about six inches taller then her, Pearl could easily stand a chance. So, the vertically challenged one sat back down, staring glumly at the counter. Wood patterns were certainly interesting.
"I t'ought so." Pearl boasted, sitting back down likewise. Maybe her day was turning out for the best, now that she was amongst friends.
Clink snorted lightly, rolling her eyes all the while. "Really? I didn' know dat you was capable of dat!" She smirked, proud of her comment.
"Hey! I resent dat!" Pearl laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
"I'se shoah ya do." Clink responded, yawning heavily. She could feel her eyes close lightly as her head slowly drooped down to the counter in front of her.
Daphne giggled, and then felt her breath catch in her chest suddenly. "Dutchy!" She had seen a familiar hat and pair of glasses pass by the windows! She began to bounce around in her seat, shaking the counter along with her as she pounded her palm into the wood.
"Geez, ya just saw da boy t'ree hours ago..." Clink mumbled, feeling her forehead throb from Daphne's excitement.
Pearl nodded her head as it leaned against her palm, her elbow resting on the counter lazily. She, too, could feel the vibrations against her skull from Daphne's pounding. "You know dose two. Gotta be wit' each odder all da..."
"Hey, hey, HEY people! WOO!" Bellowed a not-so-deep, familiar, voice from the door as it swung open. The bells above the door tinkled their little melody as Pie Eater practically leaped through the door. Dutchy entered right after him in a more modest fashion. The lenses of his glasses still covered with fog from the moisture in the air, and his blond hair protectively hid under his cap. Pie Eater's muscular neck was accompanied by it's usual bandanna, this one being black, and his dark brown hair was unusually spiked from it's being wet. His brown eyes quickly scanned the restaurant before him. "Whats up, guys?!" He yelled out to... well, everyone. At the sound of his voice, Clink's head snapped up and off of the counter. She would definitely be feeling that in the morning.
"Oww!!" She whimpered, letting her head fall slowly back as it was before.
Pearl snickered to herself. "All foah da act of love," she joked. Clink pretended to sob into her hands, making Pearl laugh. Althrough this, Daphne hardly noticed any comment at all, for her eyes were locked on Dutchy's. The beauty with the blond hair smiled warmly at his girl, as he hurried towards her, dodging Pie who was flying towards Jack.
"Cowboy, hey, how are ya?" He called as he dashed to his leader's side. He leaned across both Davey and Les so that he could hug his leader. Then he clapped both Copper and Trapper on the backs. Copper just slightly winced with pain, and then went back to her pretending-not-to-notice-that-Davey-was-looking-at-her game. Trapper gave Pie a look that said "you have a death wish that I just may have to grant", and then she gulped some more of her drink down.
Jack chuckled and leaned his back against the window again, not noticing Trapper's own happy hour. "Pie Eatah! I'se doin' okay. Hows da headlines treatin' ya?" He asked, tipping his cowboy hat back on his head so that he could look Pie in the eye. ((AN: i love rhyming))
Pie shrugged, sticking his thumbs in his yellow vest pockets. "Same old, same old. Hey, Trappah," He looked down at her with a slight smile. She looked back at him with a similar one, except it faltered when a hiccup escaped her lips. Jack and Pie both laughed at her, since she was obviously drinking, or, something. "You havin' a good time?" Pie asked, nodding towards her drink that she held tightly in her hands.
"OOH yah!" She beamed up at him, taking another swig. "Dis HAIR business is SOO... hairy." Her green eyes widened as she stressed every other syllable. Her auburn hair fell into her face, making her look even more "happy".
"Daph! I missed ya!" Dutchy said in his soft monotone voice, hugging his girl firmly against his chest.
"I missed ya too, Dutchy!" Daphne gushed likewise. Pearl and Clink looked at each other, both unentertained.
"C'mon, I don't FEEL da love, heah!" Clink yelled at them, breaking through the all too comfortable love embrace.
"Yah!" Pearl agreed, spreading her arms out in front of her. "Show us how MUCH ya hated bein' apart!" Dutchy and Daphne turned and shrugged in each other's directions. As the rest of the crowd seemed to melt into the backdrop, their faces freezed into loving smiles. Then they wrapped their arms around each other, slowly as if not to russle any wrong doing. Dutchy moved in close to her and they both tilted their heads to the opposite sides. Noses far out of touch, both of their eyes blissfully closed, their mouths open just enough, and their light red lips beginning to brush against each other before....
"OKAY dats 'nough affection riiiight dere." Clink announced, clapping her hands together a few times. Daph and Dutchy both groaned inwardly, pulling apart from each other. Pearl and Clink giggled uproariously until the couple threw them murderous looks. That kind of shut them up, but a few small giggles lingered between them. Dutchy leaned forward and whispered something in Daph's ear, and she nodded in agreement.
"See ya immature folks latah. I'se goin' off wit' me boy!" Daphne declared hauntingly, before stalking off to the DARK section of the restaurant with Dutchy leading the way. God knows if Cone and Mush were still back there. Maybe they had materialized into the seat cushions.
Clink snorted. "I'se immature only when I wanna be!" She yelled after them.
"An' whens dat?" Pearl asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Uh..." Clink drawled, scratching her head. "Who knows." They both broke into giggles again, turning their usual color of red as they gasped for breath.
Back at the other booth, Pie Eater laughed, throwing his head back. "I can imagine it's hairy!" He agreed with Trapper. She snorted with laughter, and then collapsed promptly on her face, her mug still clasped tightly in her hands.
"Uh." Copper muttered, looking down at Trapper's mess of hair. "Trapper??"
A small muffled "what" was heard from under Trapper's hair. Davey looked down at her worriedly, timidly shaking her shoulder. Jack just frowned and removed the mug from her hands. He took a sniff and cringed his nose. Either she was drinking some powerful booze, or pesticides. All the while Les was looking at the girl as if she was a cool bug that needed dissecting.
"Is she dead yet?!" He asked excitedly. Davey threw his brother a menacing glance before shaking Trapper again. Jack slapped Les on the back of the head, and pushed him out of the way. Then Pie Eater hit the boy on the shoulder. Les just continued to look around him, like a parinoid dog.
"She ain't gunna be dead. But she's dead drunk!" Jack said, taking Copper's place next to Trapper, as he gently tapped her.
Copper sighed to herself. She should have known that Trapper was drinking.
Pie Eater scratched his head in a confused manner. He didn't know Trapper all that well, but Davey and Jack sure did look worried. Not to mention Copper! Pie suddenly felt a small hand on his elbow.
"Ha! SEE, if they'd a let ME drink, den I'd be da one passed out on a table." July complained, leaning in over Copper to smell Trapper's breath.
"Hey, get offa her!" Jack yelled, swatting July's nose away from the knocked out girl. Trapper moaned something incoherently in her intoxicated state of mind.
July shrugged. "I'se just seein' what she was drinkin'. Smells like a combination or somet'in." She knew lots of drinks, but that must have been some WEIRD combination.
Clink looked up from her giggle fit with Pearl to see what was happening at the nearby booth. "Ain't dat Trappah?" She asked, pointing to the crumpled persona on the table, who just so happened to have people hovering over her.
"Looks like a dead one ta me." Pearl commented, standing up and rushing over to the girl in need! Dun dun dun! "Trapps?" She asked softly as she reached the booth.
Clink sighed and followed Pearl, ending up next to Pie Eater.
"Hey!" He grinned broadly at her.
"Hey!" She grinned broadly back at him. Then she tore her eyes away from him (which was hard to do) towards the subject at hand. "Wha happened?" She asked him.
"Oh, uh, she kinda... fell down." He said, nodding his head as if that was the correct way to word what he wanted to say.
"Makes sense." Clink said with a giggle.
"She okay?" Pearl asked Davey, worriedly.
Davey sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. "I have no idea. Les? LES!?" He pulled the little boy away from Trapper by the back of his shirt. "I want you to go home, okay?" He ordered as the little boy waved his sword around in the air, as if he was going to stick his big brother with it.
Les grumbled something and nodded his head reluctantly. "But only if Pearl comes wit' me!" He yelled, his eyes twinkling with whatever his twisted mind was thinking of.
'Oh boy.' Pearl thought. 'I hate it when little boys have crushes on me...' Davey turned to her hopefully, his eyes pleading with her. "Ahright, ahright! I'll take him home. Butcha owe me, Dave!" She warned before dragging the little boy behind her, his wooden sword held possessively in one of his fists.
'Pity I had to do that.' Davey thought as he imagined what the future had in store for Pearl. He then turned back to the matter at hand.
"TRAPPER!" Copper cried, shaking her friend furiously. Davey was right behind her, poking the poor girl as if to see if she was done cooking yet.
"Trapper? Trapper?" He said repeatidly, like a parrot.
Yes, indeed, Trapper was somewhat awake. She could hear her name being called... and called... and called again. A sharp pain in her side began to appear, where Davey was poking her over and over. It all became too much for her! 'Leave me alone!' Her mind shrieked. 'Can't I be drunk in PEACE!?' With that thought in her mind, her eyes flew open and her drunken mind seemed to fly out with it. Her arms flew up and around her, pulling the table that she had been lying on, over onto it's side. Unfortunately, it landed directly on top Copper, knocking her clear off her feet and backwards into Davey. They both crash landed onto the floor, the table landing on top of them. Luckily, July and Clink were somewhat in the way, and they were able to block some of the weight so Copper wasn't smooshed. Clink reached out quickly, falling on her knees, as she caught a corner of the table in her hands.
"OWW!" Copper wailed, wiggling against Davey. His eyes grew wide as he held her still.
"Stop that!, it HURTS!" He whispered hoarsely in her ear. She was afraid to ask him exactly what DID hurt. Who wanted to go there?!
Trapper growled like a caged animal and raced for the door. Pie, being undistracted at the time, grabbed her around the waist and held to her tight. Jack, then, rushed over to them and held her arms down by her sides, as Pie took her legs.
"Damn, dis table weighs too much!" Clink complained, holding her corner up.
"You got dat roight." July muttered, trying to yank her side so that it was standing up right again. "Someone care ta help us?!" She bellowed to the rest of Tibby's, who seemed to be in shellshock.
Copper whimpered slightly, trying to hold the table off of her middle section. It wasn't that it hurt her all that much, but just the thought of being trapped... with Davey, was all too much for her. Davey awkwardly wrapped his arms around her waist, trying to offer some comfort to her. 'Ummn, maybe not so bad aftah all...' Copper rethought, smiling lightly to herself.
Dutchy, emerging from the DARK section of the restaurant and a few waiters appeared to help the situation. They took the table off of Clink and July's hands and pulled it onto it's legs again, freeing Copper and Davey.
Davey sighed in relief, letting go of Copper, much to her disappointment. "Thank heavens thats over with!" He declared with a nervous smile. Copper smiled back at him, nodding her head. She was still sort of wobbly from all the goings around.
"Guys?" Jack asked from near the door. Him and Pie still held fast onto Trapper, except now she was conked out in their arms. "Seems we got a sleepah ovah heah." He said with a smile, as he brushed a strand of Trapper's hair off of her face.
Pie grinned. "I'll take her back to da lodgin' house witcha. Me an' Dutchy gotta go back dat way ta sell moah, anyways." He said with a shrug. Jack nodded up at him, and then repositioned his arms around her. Besides the fact that Trapper was drunk, she looked... well, peaceful lying in his arms like that. He liked it.
"You gotta go? Again?" Daphne asked, as she put her hand on her man's arm. She didn't like the fact that they had to be separated all the time.
"Yah. But I'se got a date witcha latah, roight?" Dutchy asked hopefully, his voice soft and a comfort to her.
"You bet!" Daphne answered quickly, giving him a small kiss before he headed over to Trapper and his friends.
Tibby appeared next to the group, who seemed to have caught the attention of the entire restaurant. He cleared his throat rudely before speaking. "Please tell me dat you guys is leavin'." He said as he narrowed his eyes.
"Yah, yah, we'se goin." Jack muttered, holding the door open with one arm as Dutchy held onto the other side of Trapper's side, and Pie held her legs.
"Good. An' I 'spect you guys ta be in a MUCH bettah behaviah next time!" Tibby warned before storming away. 'Kids. Ha!'
Pie, Dutchy, and Jack both looked at each other with mutual expressions that said "Yah. Okay", before heading towards the lodging house. Davey said a quick goodbye to the girls before walking after the boys, wanting to know became of Trapper.
Daphne sighed and trudged over to the door, opening it slowly.
"Daph is heart broken, aww!" Clink gushed before giggling slightly.
"Just wait 'til you'se in love, Clinker!" Daph menaced with a bemused look before exiting, on her way to follow her guy. She couldn't wait until a few hours to see him again.
Clink, July, and Copper were all left alone. They looked back and forth between each other, uncertain as what to say.
"So. Hmmn." Copper said, listlessly.
"Yah." July muttered, shifting her weight from foot to foot. "Are dose guys alive back dere?" She asked, motioning to where Mush and Cone still hadn't come up for air.
"Who knows." Copper replied with a giggle.
"SO!" Clink yelled, snapping up more then a few heads than she intended. She walked over to Copper until she was close enough to whisper. "Hows Davey doin'?" She asked with a grin.
"HEY! Not funny!" Copper exclaimed before smacking her playfully on the arm.
"You should know, Copper bo bopper!" July agreed. "Bein' dat close an' all..."
"Shut up! Not funny!" Copper whined.
Clink continued to giggle helplessly. "Maybe we should go ask Davey what hoit so much!!" She declared. Copper gasped and her eyes widened considerably.
"CHICKEN!" She screamed before jumping after Clink, who raced out the door and into the streets. July laughed before following them, back into the day light.
Down the street, hurdling more than a few trash cans, and leaping through tons of papers lying on the ground, the trio once again found their way running around like people without a clue. July was walking backwards, facing Clink and Copper, as she talked a mile a minute. As if there was any other way for her to talk...
"Den we can... can... JUMP da boy, an smash potatoes up his NOSE an' stick a lobstah down his pants!! An' we can like, sell tickets foah people ta see da mutt jump 'round like da moron he is! YAH!" July ranted, throwing her hands around for effect. Copper ran a hand over her face in exasperation, and Clink just licked her lips before she continued to smile and nod. "Dats when we can dump cold watah on him, so he shrivels like a... ahh!" July's torture speech was halted as she tripped on something lying in the alley they were walking in, and she fell backwards on her back.
"T'ank God!" Clink praised, clasping her hands together as she looked up at the bright sky. Copper laughed, and then looked down at whatever July had tripped on.
"Hey! It's... it's... da creatcha from da rivah?" Copper asked, prodding the leg that was sticking out from a pile of papers. A sort of low moan came from the papers, as a girl began to unearth herself.
July laughed as she stood up, patting the dirt off of her clothing. "Dat ain't a creatcha!" She said, pulling a few papers off of the figure. "It's. No wait, it is a creatcha... it's Ace!"
Ace looked up at the group, smacking her lips tiredly. Clink tilted her head to one side, looking down at the girl thoughtfully.
"Hmmn." She drawled lightly. "Bad night?"
Ace's eyes flew open. "It's night?!" She asked surprised.
"Nooo..." Copper drawled. "It's t'ree o'clock in da aftahnoon."
"Oh. Den alls roight wit' da woild." Ace said with a shrug, lying back down in her nest of papers. "Night, guys."
Clink bent down next to Ace, prodding her slightly. "Hey! Whats wit' da nighty nightish behaviah?" She questioned.
Ace rolled her eyes as if it were the most obvious answer in the world. "I'se tired!"
"Den why not sleep in da lodgin' house?" July suggested.
"I don't wanna!" Ace whined, beating a fist into a wad of paper.
"Uh. Okay." Copper remarked, looking at Clink with a cocked eyebrow. "Ace, you feelin' okay?"
"Yeppers." Came the muffled reply.
"Den why da nap," Clink questioned as if the girl had murdered someone, and needed prosecution. "In da middle of a alley, no doubt."
Ace sighed in a forlorn matter. "You guys wanna know da truth?"
"Yah!" "Uh huh..." "Shoah!" The three girls chorused together, then simultaneously leaning forward as Ace picked her head up to look at them. Her short amber-gold hair fell into her equally gold, hazel eyes. The suspenseful moment dragged on as Ace distractedly pulled a seam out of her white tank top she was wearing.
"Well?" Copper prompted, slightly impatient.
"Well what?" Ace asked, as she blinked up at the tall red head.
"Well, whats da truth?!" She demanded, putting a fist on her hip, pointedly.
It was very clear that some sort of kinky, insane, thought entered poor Ace's mind then, for her eyes suddenly sparkled from the insides, and her red lips curved at the corners.
"I'se really a man." She declared with a quick nod of her head.
Clink's eyebrows rose hurriedly, and then she burst into a fit of laughter. July just folded her arms across her chest and shook her head. "Dat explains a couple of t'ings." She remarked.
"Yah!" Ace said with another flash of her perverted grin. "I t'ought me cover was totally blown when Race and I were in da bunk room dat night. Ya know, da lights were all low an' I was kinda drunk..."
"Kinda?!" Clink stated, grasping Copper's shoulder and shaking her lightly. "Didn' she ask us if we would like ta wax her pet platypus so dat she could go into da corn field ta get... get..."
"Avocados." Copper said, trying to maintain a straight face, but only turning a queer shade of pink, instead. "So we could have a mass orgy wit' all da jokers in Race's deck." The last few words were barely gasped out before Copper and Clink both fell into a round of laughter.
July looked down at Ace questioningly, who only looked up at her with another of her smiles. It was amazing how Ace could sustain her own lunacy.
"No, really, Ace." Clink said as soon as she had (somewhat) composed herself. "What ya doin' heah?"
"Damsel, Patch, and Blink were in deir own little woild." Ace said, standing up and brushing herself off. "I was sellin' wit' Damsel, den da next minute I know she sees Blink, and WHAM!" She smacked her hands together for emphasis. "Like a fly to a horses bum."
"I bet!" July said with a light chuckle. "So where'd Patch come from?"
Ace patted July on the back, soothingly. "Ya see, July. When a man loves a woman very much..."
"Aw, can it!" July retorted as she slapped Ace lightly on the shoulder.
Ace laughed and then shrugged. "Patch kinda just showed up an' attached lovin'ly ta Blinky-boy. Den dey flocked ta Irving Hall... so I ditched dem, an' decided to disappear for a few." She explained. Clink yawned dejectedly, and then grinned at Copper who rolled her eyes at her.
"HEY!!" July announced to the group all of a sudden. "We'se goin' ta Medda's!"
"Uh. No we'se not." Copper replied, her eyes widening slightly from fright. Something about Medda scared her. Scared her bad. Maybe it was the fact that the lady liked to stick feathers up people's noses, without even asking permission!
"Yep, yep! We are!" July said, bouncing around excitedly. Clink and Ace looked at each other with "duh" expressions on their faces.
"Why not clue us in," Clink broke in "And tell us WHY would we wanna risk our lives ta go ta Irving Hall?"
"PATCH IS DERE!!" July practically roared into her friend's face. Clink could feel her bangs flying off of her forehead from the force of all of the hot air! ((AN: ooh, so technical, there!))
"And..." Ace egged on, raising an eyebrow.
July sighed heavily, wondering why she put up with such people. "Patch can help me get ta Conlon!" She said exasperatidly.
Clink, Copper, AND Ace all simultaneously slapped their foreheads at the same moment. "AHH!" They complained. July just laughed at them. She couldn't help how she was.
"Okay, fine den. I'se goin', an' dats DAT!" July said, before turning and then walking quickly in the direction of Medda's.
A slight pause took it's place over the three rejected girls as they watched July leave them, to go seek out better ways to get her *cough* man.
"Should we follow her?" Copper asked, watching July make a wide circle away from a bird who was somehow... menacing to her.
"You got any odder plans foah today?" Clink asked with a raised eyebrow. The bird was now squawking at the girl as she began to jog away from it. It kept up by hopping after her, on it's tiny little legs.
Copper smiled to herself. "Well, Davey is pro'lly worried bout me... since I DID get dat table thrown on me."
Ace burst out with a quick laugh and then covered her mouth. "Do I even wanna know?" She asked Copper.
"No." Both Clink and Copper answered with identicle amused smiles.
"Kay, I'se followin' her. Might as well.. I'se broke, anyway." Clink said with a shrug as she walked steadily towards July, who continued to flee from the evil bird.
Copper looked towards Ace, who was oh-so-surprisingly lying down in the newspapers again. "Comin'?" She beckoned.
"Nah, I'se hand 'nough of you guys foah a day!" Ace retorted with her usual smile. "'Sides, I'se tired... see ya when I do." With that, the small girl sighed contentedly before closing her eyes. Sleep felt good!
Copper grinned. Such people she was mixed up in! In a minute she was following Clink and July, to Medda's.
"Clinkery!" Pearl called out as she ran after her friend, the look of fear in her eyes. "CLINK!" Her brown hair flew around her skull as she caught her shorter friend by the shoulders, and tried to hide behind her.
Copper blinked her eyes multiple times and then turned around to face Clink and July questionly, but then noticed their eyes were huge with fright, also. They were of no help to her.
"So. Whats goin' on?" She asked, trying to look Pearl in the eye even though she was still behind her.
"Peeeeaaarrrl!" A childish voice practically screamed as a small boy dashed towards the group. Clutched in his hand was a wooden sword, which he used to jab through the crowds as he ran up the street.
"HOLY crap!!" Clink yelled, running into a doorway. The others followed her without much complaint.
"Why in da name of fish tanks is he followin' ya?!" July hissed to Pearl as she sunk into a corner as if she was a little bug. Pearl just shook her head and shrugged, peering out of the shadows that they were hiding in.
Les stopped in front of the doorway and looked around, frowning to himself as he wondered where his "woman" had gone to. "PEARL!! I wanna PLAY!" He moaned.
Hearing this, both Copper and Clink giggled helplessly, patting Les' little love toy on the back as she sweltered in her own self hate. She watched somberly, as if it were her dying day, as Les finally turned around and skipped off down the street.
"So uh, Pearl." July said with a grin once the coast was clear. The four girls stepped out of the long doorway and into the sunlight. "Hows da lovin' goin'?" Pearl growled lightly and then poked July on the shoulder. "Hey!" July protested, dodging away from another poke.
Clink smiled, looking down the street to see a wooden sword dissapear from view. "What were ya doin' wit' him?" She asked Pearl.
"Davey begged me to take him back home." Pearl muttered, kicking the gravel.
"So how'd ya get here?" Copper asked, pulling on her red curls.
"Da little devil forced me ta take him to da park. So when he was chasing his own shadow an' actin' dumb, I ran to find you guys." She explained, stuffing her hands in her pockets.
Copper frowned. "Personally, I don't see what all da fuss is 'bout. He's a cute kid!"
"You'se just sayin' dat cause you like his broddah!" July accused, as she stuffed her cabby hat on top of her head.
"Yah," Clink agreed with a mischievious smirk. "Just imagine da children... just... like... Les..." At this comment, Pearl groaned lightly.
"Remind me nevah ta babysit foah you!" She said to Copper. Copper's eyes widened as she sputtered questions and confused speech.
"But I... huh, what?! MARRIED!? We ain't even goin' out at ALL, an' you'se talkin' bout... what?!" She muttered, circling around the group.
Clink grinned and patted her on the back. "Time will tell." She said very serenly.
Pearl sighed. "T'anks foah savin' me, guys. But I really need ta go sell da aftahnoon addition if I wanna eat tomorrow... see ya at da house." She waved goodbye and then began walking towards the circulation center.
"Ready foah Irvin' hall?" July asked with a smirk on her face. Clink and Copper looked at each other, sighing inwardly. They had been wishing that she had forgot all about Medda's.
"Yah, shoah." Copper mumbled with a shrug.
"Kay..." Clink drawled, thinking of some sort of diversion. Nothing came up in time.
"Ahright! Lets go, we'se almost dere." July said, excitidly bouncing down the street.
Clink began to mumble incoherently under her breath, while Copper thought of purple feathers and big foo-foo dresses. Whenever she saw Copper, for some reason Medda always wanted to dress her up. It was a nightmare backstage.
After a short walk, the three made it to the big theatre which was Medda's place. Knowing better then to go through the front door (for Medda's sake), they went around the building and entered a back alley, where the backstage door was unlocked. Clink swung the light door open and the three entered the dark room. Music was playing in the background as the act for that night warmed up.
"Okay, Toby, I needja ta lift that... no, not that. YES, that!" Medda ordered as she supervised the scenery change for that night.
"Medda!" July called as she walked over to where Medda stood backstage.
"July, honey! Velcome, dahlings!" Medda said, wrapping July in a perfume cloud of a hug. July sustained herself from gagging as she pulled away from the woman. Medda was wearing a simple dress, yet tight, brown with black seams that reached the floor. Her hair was in a type of system that would make it curly for the night. As soon as the woman talked to her, a Swedish accent seemed to appear from nowhere. "How can I help you, dears?" She asked after hugging both Clink and Copper.
"We hoid dat Patch, Damsel, and Blink were heah?" July asked.
"Yep." Clink agreed out of no where, rubbing her hand over her nose so she couldn't sneeze anymore. The perfume was getting to her allergies.
"Oh, of course!" Medda exclaimed flutteringly, as she twittled her hands in the air. "Why else would you be here?"
"Got dat roight." Copper muttered under her breath, before raising her head and grinning a fake grin to the woman before her.
"So, deir heah?" July asked, nudging Copper in the ribs so that the strained smile disapeared.
"Why, yes! Upstairs in the balcony room. I think they're trying on clothes... I could be wrong." Medda
Soon, as they almost always usually did, separate conversations began to take form. Mush was hanging all over Cone, (Wait. Strike that, reverse it) all the while whispering sweet nothings into her ear. Davey and Copper were talking a mile a minute like the chums they were. July was swinging her arms around, distractedly as she thought about her evil plan, and Clink was sidestepping puddles amidst her yodeling.
"Yodalayeeoo!" Clink cupped her hands around her mouth, yelling above the heads of her friends and beyond. "Yodalaaaay!"
"Clinkers!" July yelled to get her friend's attention, "Stop da matin' calls! Pie Eatah ain't heah!" Clink stopped in her tracks long enough to whack her friend on the back of the head. No damage was done, though. It is hard to crack open a head that has already done so, long ago. ((AN: how true that is!))
Mush grinned, turning to Cone, who was holding onto the crook of his arm. She was staring up at him with a dreamy look in her eye. "Gee, dey shoah are slap happy!" He remarked, motioning towards July and Clink who were taking turns yelling and slapping each other with various objects. Cone just laughed and patted Mushy-baby on the back, while pulling him across the street to Tibby's.
"And that is when Sarah fell down the stairs to the apartment building and broke her collar bone." Davey summed up for Copper. He smiled at her and then pulled his cap down even further onto his tight curls. He had been explaining why Jack hadn't been around his little love toy lately. Besides the obvious reasons, of course.
"You wanna talk 'bout matin' calls, Jules?" Clink asked with a menacing tone in her voice, as she put her hands on her hips. "Or do ya wanna grab some moah booty from da mutt?" July let out a protesting cry and then slapped Clink with her hat.
"Dat ain't even funny, chicken!" She yelled, despite the fact that she was laughing. Clink giggled insanely and then slapped her back with her own hat. Oh the joy of slap happy people.
"Oh. I see." Copper said to Davey, as she twisted a loose seam on the bottom of her shirt. "An' dats why she's at da hospital?"
Davey blushed slightly, shaking his head, as he veered is eyes away from her. "Well, there were some other reasons."
"I hate that boy! Ya heah me?! I HATE HIM!" It was obvious that the group had a newcomer in their mists. A very loud on, at that.
"Heyas, Pearl!" Cone called before she was whisked through the doors of the restaurant by Mush. Pearl hardly noticed the call before she stormed up to July and Clink, who seemed not to be occupied at the time by a evil boy.
"You a wha, huh?" Clink asked Pearl as she rubbed the numerous red spots that were forming on her arms.
Pearl sighed and threw her hands up above her head. "BOOTS!" She declared as if it was the most obvious reason in the world. July and Clink looked at each other; both wondering what in the name of fish sticks had happened to make Pearl so mad at poor, little "innocent" Boots.
"Oh, boy. That was at the tip of my tongue for an answer." July joked with a grin.
"Uh huh, sure." Pearl rolled her eyes in return, putting her tightly made fists on her hips.
Clink looked around them, noting the fact that Copper, Davey, Mush, AND Cone had deserted them. Couples were just weird like that. Then again, Davey and Copper weren't exactly couples. At least... that is what THEY said.
"So, what happened wit' Boots?" Clink asked, turning back to the deranged one that was now blowing smoke out of her nostrils.
Pearl rolled her eyes again. "I don't wanna talk 'bout dat... dat... JOIK!"
"Whatevah floats ya boat," July said with a shrug "Lets go eat, I'se starvin!" She turned quickly to the building which was Tibby's, and then practically ran both Pearl and Clink over to get into the restaurant where food was ready to be sacrificed.
"It's a good t'ing dat she's not in da mood foah chicken." Clink giggled towards her fellow chum who was standing in a cloud of dust that July had left behind.
"Or Pearls!" Pearl said with a bright grin. Clink just nodded uncertainly and then entered the room soon after July. Tibby's was dark, lighted only by a small series of light bulbs and the sun that was streaming through the windows. Smoke from cigars and cigarettes flooded their visions slightly as they peered around, taking in all of the familiar and unfamiliar faces. This was the life: no worries, no responsibilities... and no Spot Conlon. Or at least, that is what they thought.
"Den DATS when I said ta him: 'Ya ain't gunna pick on me, none! Ya know who I am?'" Jack boasted in a nearby booth to a halfway asleep Trapper and Les. "An' da odder guy said..."
"'You'se dat joik from Manhattan!'" Les burst out, finishing for his hero. Jack threw him a look across the booth that would have made milk spoil. Trapper chuckled softly to herself, covering her mouth slightly so that Jack wouldn't hear her. Sure, he was beyond cute, but boy his stories were just so... so...
"Couldn't you think of any NEW stories, Jack?" Davey asked, all of a sudden appearing next to the small group. Without even seeing him, Trapper could tell that he was joking around with his buddy. "I've heard this one a trillion times! And every time it changes." He pointed out with a grin. Copper and him walked up to the booth, Copper taking a place next to Trapper and Davey sliding in next to Les and Jack. Trapper noticed a very love sick couple, which just so happened to be Mush and Cone, were practically falling over each other to get to a booth all the way in the DARK section of the restaurant. She wished she was back there. She noticed wearily as Cone and Mush began to share certain things that couples do. Saliva. Maybe it was a good thing she wasn't back there. 'Den again...' she looked up at Jack.
"Yah, well you'se da foist to complain, Mouth!" Jack responded with a smirk.
Copper rolled her eyes. "If I have ta hear any moah of dis male bonding, I'll feel left out." She commented, casting her eyes onto Davey's, which seemed to be a reflex by now. She sort of felt like hitting herself to make it stop.
"I'se roight along witcha on dat one." Trapper agreed, sipping on her saspirilla, which just so happened to be spiked with something. What, she had no clue.
"Les! What are you doing here?" Questioned the worried older brother, as he removed Les' wooden sword from the table. 'Sometimes I swear that I found this boy in a garbage can one day.' He thought sourly to himself. "Aren't you supposed to be with mamma?"
Jack shrugged. "I sprung him from da joint, Davey." He explained, putting a protective arm around the younger boy. Davey muttered something about Les being a tag along, and then noticed Copper staring off into space in his direction. He tried to avert his eyes, but he found it hard for some reason. "So, uh," Davey stumbled, trying to change the subject. "How was your day in the shop, Trapper?"
The girl's wild green looked up at Davey. "Who, me?" She asked kidding. Davey opened his mouth to retort, but she interrupted him. "WELL, it was a helluva day since dere was dis really hairy guy gettin' his haih cut. I tell ya, it was scary. I t'ought he was dis gorilla someone found in deir apartment at foist! An' a coise I got ta clean up da floah aftah him." She shuddered in remembrance, stealing a glance over to Jack, who was leaning his head against the window, pretending to snore with boredom. Trapper repaid him by kicking him in the shin under the table. She was going to yell at him for some odd reason (hey, he deserved it for being a jerk) when she saw a familiar face coming through the door.
"JULY!" She grinned, waving madly to catch her friend's attention. July looked up at her and smiled broadly, before heading over to the far end of the bar for a drink. She needed one. Badly. Trapper shrugged and then saw the door open again, this time Pearl and Clink bounded through the door.
"Pearl! Clink! Hi!" She waved over at them, shaking the table along with her. Pearl waved back listlessly, while Clink grinned and saluted to both Copper and Trapper, as she walked quickly over to the bar.
"Heyas, Buggy!" She grinned at Boogay, the usual guy who ran the bar. "Gimme a... pina colada!" She declared slamming her palm onto the hard wood.
The man laughed in her face and shook his head, turning away from the annoying little girl who liked coconut just a little too much, to continue his job of washing glasses.
"Bite me." Clink smirked at his back, whirling around on her little swirling seat that was attached the to bar. "Woo!"
Pearl sat down heavily next to her in another stool, making her look up.
"You okay?" Clink asked concerned, still spinning. She had to crane her neck so that she could look her friend in the eye.
"Yah. I just had some bad luck. Dats all." Pearl stated shrugging.
"Why, what happened?" A tall girl asked, her blond hair in curls down her back, as she walked up to the pair. The girl's, Daphne, blue eyes shone with excitement as she sat down on the opposite side of Clink. She kept her attention slightly focused on the discussion and even so more on the door, knowing that Dutchy could enter at any time. And heaven forbid that she missed him! ((AN: *gasps of shock*))
"Heyas Daph!" Clink waved slightly, still spinning round and round. "Ah, she had some little t'ing wit' Boots goin' on..."
"T'ING!?" Daph asked, shocked, sitting down next to Clink.
Pearl laughed suddenly, the look on Daph's face suddenly cheering her up. "Not like dat! I just lost real bad at marbles."
Clink stopped her spinning, feeling slightly woozy. "Marbles? You'se mad cause a marbles?!" She demanded, blinking her eyes so that she could focus on Pearl.
"Well, yah! I boasted ta him at how good I was. Den da next t'ing I know, we'se bettin' on it, an' he cleaned me out! Da little skunk he is." Pearl muttered, tearing napkins into little bits. The three watched attentively as the pieces floated to the floor.
"HEY! Stop makin' a mess in me restaurant!" Tibby yelled from the back room, seeing how Pearl was taking her anger out on paper.
Daphne sighed. "Blow it outcha..."
"WHAT was dat, Daphne?!" Tibby demanded, slightly furious.
"I said 'BOY dat sauerkraut is... uh... sauery." Daph muttered, blushing slightly. There were collective giggles and hoots in the room, most of it from Mush in the back. Cone had to hit the boy to quiet him.
July sighed frustratingly. "C'mon, man!" She pleaded with one of the waiters, Wally. "You always gave me some booze b'foah!" She complained, pounding her angry fist on the back of her chair.
Wally chuckled, wiping down a counter. 'Dese kids don't know when ta stop," he thought. "July. Honey. You have a drinking prob." There, he had said it to the poor girl. Hopefully she would take the hint and leave him the he...
"I DO NOT!" July practically screamed, forcing people around her to look up from their businesses to stare at her awkwardly. "I mean," She said softer then before "I just need somet'in now. Just a little some'tin!" At any moment now, she felt that she had to get on her knees to beg the guy. 'What a gyp!! I'se one a deir best customers!'
"Well, you aren't getting it." Wally answered smartly, turning around and heading into the kitchen. July waited a minute before sobbing dramatically and banging her forehead into the table in front of her. Life was so unfair.
Clink sighed loudly, folding her hands behind her back and stretching. "Well," She said to Pearl. "I wouldn't be so upset. Ya both can't play marbles foah beans." She laughed, laying her head lightly on the counter in front of her.
"You'se insultin' me skills?!" Pearl demanded from her, puffing out her chest defiantly.
"Yah, I am!" Came the answer. Daphne grinned and sipped at her cola, her blue eyes averting back to the door. 'Wheah is he?!' Her brain screamed.
"Well, lets get dis on!" Pearl exclaimed loudly, standing up next to her swirling chair. Clink stood up next to her, mock-glaring at her with her hands placed firmly on her hips. Actually, UP at her. Being about six inches taller then her, Pearl could easily stand a chance. So, the vertically challenged one sat back down, staring glumly at the counter. Wood patterns were certainly interesting.
"I t'ought so." Pearl boasted, sitting back down likewise. Maybe her day was turning out for the best, now that she was amongst friends.
Clink snorted lightly, rolling her eyes all the while. "Really? I didn' know dat you was capable of dat!" She smirked, proud of her comment.
"Hey! I resent dat!" Pearl laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
"I'se shoah ya do." Clink responded, yawning heavily. She could feel her eyes close lightly as her head slowly drooped down to the counter in front of her.
Daphne giggled, and then felt her breath catch in her chest suddenly. "Dutchy!" She had seen a familiar hat and pair of glasses pass by the windows! She began to bounce around in her seat, shaking the counter along with her as she pounded her palm into the wood.
"Geez, ya just saw da boy t'ree hours ago..." Clink mumbled, feeling her forehead throb from Daphne's excitement.
Pearl nodded her head as it leaned against her palm, her elbow resting on the counter lazily. She, too, could feel the vibrations against her skull from Daphne's pounding. "You know dose two. Gotta be wit' each odder all da..."
"Hey, hey, HEY people! WOO!" Bellowed a not-so-deep, familiar, voice from the door as it swung open. The bells above the door tinkled their little melody as Pie Eater practically leaped through the door. Dutchy entered right after him in a more modest fashion. The lenses of his glasses still covered with fog from the moisture in the air, and his blond hair protectively hid under his cap. Pie Eater's muscular neck was accompanied by it's usual bandanna, this one being black, and his dark brown hair was unusually spiked from it's being wet. His brown eyes quickly scanned the restaurant before him. "Whats up, guys?!" He yelled out to... well, everyone. At the sound of his voice, Clink's head snapped up and off of the counter. She would definitely be feeling that in the morning.
"Oww!!" She whimpered, letting her head fall slowly back as it was before.
Pearl snickered to herself. "All foah da act of love," she joked. Clink pretended to sob into her hands, making Pearl laugh. Althrough this, Daphne hardly noticed any comment at all, for her eyes were locked on Dutchy's. The beauty with the blond hair smiled warmly at his girl, as he hurried towards her, dodging Pie who was flying towards Jack.
"Cowboy, hey, how are ya?" He called as he dashed to his leader's side. He leaned across both Davey and Les so that he could hug his leader. Then he clapped both Copper and Trapper on the backs. Copper just slightly winced with pain, and then went back to her pretending-not-to-notice-that-Davey-was-looking-at-her game. Trapper gave Pie a look that said "you have a death wish that I just may have to grant", and then she gulped some more of her drink down.
Jack chuckled and leaned his back against the window again, not noticing Trapper's own happy hour. "Pie Eatah! I'se doin' okay. Hows da headlines treatin' ya?" He asked, tipping his cowboy hat back on his head so that he could look Pie in the eye. ((AN: i love rhyming))
Pie shrugged, sticking his thumbs in his yellow vest pockets. "Same old, same old. Hey, Trappah," He looked down at her with a slight smile. She looked back at him with a similar one, except it faltered when a hiccup escaped her lips. Jack and Pie both laughed at her, since she was obviously drinking, or, something. "You havin' a good time?" Pie asked, nodding towards her drink that she held tightly in her hands.
"OOH yah!" She beamed up at him, taking another swig. "Dis HAIR business is SOO... hairy." Her green eyes widened as she stressed every other syllable. Her auburn hair fell into her face, making her look even more "happy".
"Daph! I missed ya!" Dutchy said in his soft monotone voice, hugging his girl firmly against his chest.
"I missed ya too, Dutchy!" Daphne gushed likewise. Pearl and Clink looked at each other, both unentertained.
"C'mon, I don't FEEL da love, heah!" Clink yelled at them, breaking through the all too comfortable love embrace.
"Yah!" Pearl agreed, spreading her arms out in front of her. "Show us how MUCH ya hated bein' apart!" Dutchy and Daphne turned and shrugged in each other's directions. As the rest of the crowd seemed to melt into the backdrop, their faces freezed into loving smiles. Then they wrapped their arms around each other, slowly as if not to russle any wrong doing. Dutchy moved in close to her and they both tilted their heads to the opposite sides. Noses far out of touch, both of their eyes blissfully closed, their mouths open just enough, and their light red lips beginning to brush against each other before....
"OKAY dats 'nough affection riiiight dere." Clink announced, clapping her hands together a few times. Daph and Dutchy both groaned inwardly, pulling apart from each other. Pearl and Clink giggled uproariously until the couple threw them murderous looks. That kind of shut them up, but a few small giggles lingered between them. Dutchy leaned forward and whispered something in Daph's ear, and she nodded in agreement.
"See ya immature folks latah. I'se goin' off wit' me boy!" Daphne declared hauntingly, before stalking off to the DARK section of the restaurant with Dutchy leading the way. God knows if Cone and Mush were still back there. Maybe they had materialized into the seat cushions.
Clink snorted. "I'se immature only when I wanna be!" She yelled after them.
"An' whens dat?" Pearl asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Uh..." Clink drawled, scratching her head. "Who knows." They both broke into giggles again, turning their usual color of red as they gasped for breath.
Back at the other booth, Pie Eater laughed, throwing his head back. "I can imagine it's hairy!" He agreed with Trapper. She snorted with laughter, and then collapsed promptly on her face, her mug still clasped tightly in her hands.
"Uh." Copper muttered, looking down at Trapper's mess of hair. "Trapper??"
A small muffled "what" was heard from under Trapper's hair. Davey looked down at her worriedly, timidly shaking her shoulder. Jack just frowned and removed the mug from her hands. He took a sniff and cringed his nose. Either she was drinking some powerful booze, or pesticides. All the while Les was looking at the girl as if she was a cool bug that needed dissecting.
"Is she dead yet?!" He asked excitedly. Davey threw his brother a menacing glance before shaking Trapper again. Jack slapped Les on the back of the head, and pushed him out of the way. Then Pie Eater hit the boy on the shoulder. Les just continued to look around him, like a parinoid dog.
"She ain't gunna be dead. But she's dead drunk!" Jack said, taking Copper's place next to Trapper, as he gently tapped her.
Copper sighed to herself. She should have known that Trapper was drinking.
Pie Eater scratched his head in a confused manner. He didn't know Trapper all that well, but Davey and Jack sure did look worried. Not to mention Copper! Pie suddenly felt a small hand on his elbow.
"Ha! SEE, if they'd a let ME drink, den I'd be da one passed out on a table." July complained, leaning in over Copper to smell Trapper's breath.
"Hey, get offa her!" Jack yelled, swatting July's nose away from the knocked out girl. Trapper moaned something incoherently in her intoxicated state of mind.
July shrugged. "I'se just seein' what she was drinkin'. Smells like a combination or somet'in." She knew lots of drinks, but that must have been some WEIRD combination.
Clink looked up from her giggle fit with Pearl to see what was happening at the nearby booth. "Ain't dat Trappah?" She asked, pointing to the crumpled persona on the table, who just so happened to have people hovering over her.
"Looks like a dead one ta me." Pearl commented, standing up and rushing over to the girl in need! Dun dun dun! "Trapps?" She asked softly as she reached the booth.
Clink sighed and followed Pearl, ending up next to Pie Eater.
"Hey!" He grinned broadly at her.
"Hey!" She grinned broadly back at him. Then she tore her eyes away from him (which was hard to do) towards the subject at hand. "Wha happened?" She asked him.
"Oh, uh, she kinda... fell down." He said, nodding his head as if that was the correct way to word what he wanted to say.
"Makes sense." Clink said with a giggle.
"She okay?" Pearl asked Davey, worriedly.
Davey sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. "I have no idea. Les? LES!?" He pulled the little boy away from Trapper by the back of his shirt. "I want you to go home, okay?" He ordered as the little boy waved his sword around in the air, as if he was going to stick his big brother with it.
Les grumbled something and nodded his head reluctantly. "But only if Pearl comes wit' me!" He yelled, his eyes twinkling with whatever his twisted mind was thinking of.
'Oh boy.' Pearl thought. 'I hate it when little boys have crushes on me...' Davey turned to her hopefully, his eyes pleading with her. "Ahright, ahright! I'll take him home. Butcha owe me, Dave!" She warned before dragging the little boy behind her, his wooden sword held possessively in one of his fists.
'Pity I had to do that.' Davey thought as he imagined what the future had in store for Pearl. He then turned back to the matter at hand.
"TRAPPER!" Copper cried, shaking her friend furiously. Davey was right behind her, poking the poor girl as if to see if she was done cooking yet.
"Trapper? Trapper?" He said repeatidly, like a parrot.
Yes, indeed, Trapper was somewhat awake. She could hear her name being called... and called... and called again. A sharp pain in her side began to appear, where Davey was poking her over and over. It all became too much for her! 'Leave me alone!' Her mind shrieked. 'Can't I be drunk in PEACE!?' With that thought in her mind, her eyes flew open and her drunken mind seemed to fly out with it. Her arms flew up and around her, pulling the table that she had been lying on, over onto it's side. Unfortunately, it landed directly on top Copper, knocking her clear off her feet and backwards into Davey. They both crash landed onto the floor, the table landing on top of them. Luckily, July and Clink were somewhat in the way, and they were able to block some of the weight so Copper wasn't smooshed. Clink reached out quickly, falling on her knees, as she caught a corner of the table in her hands.
"OWW!" Copper wailed, wiggling against Davey. His eyes grew wide as he held her still.
"Stop that!, it HURTS!" He whispered hoarsely in her ear. She was afraid to ask him exactly what DID hurt. Who wanted to go there?!
Trapper growled like a caged animal and raced for the door. Pie, being undistracted at the time, grabbed her around the waist and held to her tight. Jack, then, rushed over to them and held her arms down by her sides, as Pie took her legs.
"Damn, dis table weighs too much!" Clink complained, holding her corner up.
"You got dat roight." July muttered, trying to yank her side so that it was standing up right again. "Someone care ta help us?!" She bellowed to the rest of Tibby's, who seemed to be in shellshock.
Copper whimpered slightly, trying to hold the table off of her middle section. It wasn't that it hurt her all that much, but just the thought of being trapped... with Davey, was all too much for her. Davey awkwardly wrapped his arms around her waist, trying to offer some comfort to her. 'Ummn, maybe not so bad aftah all...' Copper rethought, smiling lightly to herself.
Dutchy, emerging from the DARK section of the restaurant and a few waiters appeared to help the situation. They took the table off of Clink and July's hands and pulled it onto it's legs again, freeing Copper and Davey.
Davey sighed in relief, letting go of Copper, much to her disappointment. "Thank heavens thats over with!" He declared with a nervous smile. Copper smiled back at him, nodding her head. She was still sort of wobbly from all the goings around.
"Guys?" Jack asked from near the door. Him and Pie still held fast onto Trapper, except now she was conked out in their arms. "Seems we got a sleepah ovah heah." He said with a smile, as he brushed a strand of Trapper's hair off of her face.
Pie grinned. "I'll take her back to da lodgin' house witcha. Me an' Dutchy gotta go back dat way ta sell moah, anyways." He said with a shrug. Jack nodded up at him, and then repositioned his arms around her. Besides the fact that Trapper was drunk, she looked... well, peaceful lying in his arms like that. He liked it.
"You gotta go? Again?" Daphne asked, as she put her hand on her man's arm. She didn't like the fact that they had to be separated all the time.
"Yah. But I'se got a date witcha latah, roight?" Dutchy asked hopefully, his voice soft and a comfort to her.
"You bet!" Daphne answered quickly, giving him a small kiss before he headed over to Trapper and his friends.
Tibby appeared next to the group, who seemed to have caught the attention of the entire restaurant. He cleared his throat rudely before speaking. "Please tell me dat you guys is leavin'." He said as he narrowed his eyes.
"Yah, yah, we'se goin." Jack muttered, holding the door open with one arm as Dutchy held onto the other side of Trapper's side, and Pie held her legs.
"Good. An' I 'spect you guys ta be in a MUCH bettah behaviah next time!" Tibby warned before storming away. 'Kids. Ha!'
Pie, Dutchy, and Jack both looked at each other with mutual expressions that said "Yah. Okay", before heading towards the lodging house. Davey said a quick goodbye to the girls before walking after the boys, wanting to know became of Trapper.
Daphne sighed and trudged over to the door, opening it slowly.
"Daph is heart broken, aww!" Clink gushed before giggling slightly.
"Just wait 'til you'se in love, Clinker!" Daph menaced with a bemused look before exiting, on her way to follow her guy. She couldn't wait until a few hours to see him again.
Clink, July, and Copper were all left alone. They looked back and forth between each other, uncertain as what to say.
"So. Hmmn." Copper said, listlessly.
"Yah." July muttered, shifting her weight from foot to foot. "Are dose guys alive back dere?" She asked, motioning to where Mush and Cone still hadn't come up for air.
"Who knows." Copper replied with a giggle.
"SO!" Clink yelled, snapping up more then a few heads than she intended. She walked over to Copper until she was close enough to whisper. "Hows Davey doin'?" She asked with a grin.
"HEY! Not funny!" Copper exclaimed before smacking her playfully on the arm.
"You should know, Copper bo bopper!" July agreed. "Bein' dat close an' all..."
"Shut up! Not funny!" Copper whined.
Clink continued to giggle helplessly. "Maybe we should go ask Davey what hoit so much!!" She declared. Copper gasped and her eyes widened considerably.
"CHICKEN!" She screamed before jumping after Clink, who raced out the door and into the streets. July laughed before following them, back into the day light.
Down the street, hurdling more than a few trash cans, and leaping through tons of papers lying on the ground, the trio once again found their way running around like people without a clue. July was walking backwards, facing Clink and Copper, as she talked a mile a minute. As if there was any other way for her to talk...
"Den we can... can... JUMP da boy, an smash potatoes up his NOSE an' stick a lobstah down his pants!! An' we can like, sell tickets foah people ta see da mutt jump 'round like da moron he is! YAH!" July ranted, throwing her hands around for effect. Copper ran a hand over her face in exasperation, and Clink just licked her lips before she continued to smile and nod. "Dats when we can dump cold watah on him, so he shrivels like a... ahh!" July's torture speech was halted as she tripped on something lying in the alley they were walking in, and she fell backwards on her back.
"T'ank God!" Clink praised, clasping her hands together as she looked up at the bright sky. Copper laughed, and then looked down at whatever July had tripped on.
"Hey! It's... it's... da creatcha from da rivah?" Copper asked, prodding the leg that was sticking out from a pile of papers. A sort of low moan came from the papers, as a girl began to unearth herself.
July laughed as she stood up, patting the dirt off of her clothing. "Dat ain't a creatcha!" She said, pulling a few papers off of the figure. "It's. No wait, it is a creatcha... it's Ace!"
Ace looked up at the group, smacking her lips tiredly. Clink tilted her head to one side, looking down at the girl thoughtfully.
"Hmmn." She drawled lightly. "Bad night?"
Ace's eyes flew open. "It's night?!" She asked surprised.
"Nooo..." Copper drawled. "It's t'ree o'clock in da aftahnoon."
"Oh. Den alls roight wit' da woild." Ace said with a shrug, lying back down in her nest of papers. "Night, guys."
Clink bent down next to Ace, prodding her slightly. "Hey! Whats wit' da nighty nightish behaviah?" She questioned.
Ace rolled her eyes as if it were the most obvious answer in the world. "I'se tired!"
"Den why not sleep in da lodgin' house?" July suggested.
"I don't wanna!" Ace whined, beating a fist into a wad of paper.
"Uh. Okay." Copper remarked, looking at Clink with a cocked eyebrow. "Ace, you feelin' okay?"
"Yeppers." Came the muffled reply.
"Den why da nap," Clink questioned as if the girl had murdered someone, and needed prosecution. "In da middle of a alley, no doubt."
Ace sighed in a forlorn matter. "You guys wanna know da truth?"
"Yah!" "Uh huh..." "Shoah!" The three girls chorused together, then simultaneously leaning forward as Ace picked her head up to look at them. Her short amber-gold hair fell into her equally gold, hazel eyes. The suspenseful moment dragged on as Ace distractedly pulled a seam out of her white tank top she was wearing.
"Well?" Copper prompted, slightly impatient.
"Well what?" Ace asked, as she blinked up at the tall red head.
"Well, whats da truth?!" She demanded, putting a fist on her hip, pointedly.
It was very clear that some sort of kinky, insane, thought entered poor Ace's mind then, for her eyes suddenly sparkled from the insides, and her red lips curved at the corners.
"I'se really a man." She declared with a quick nod of her head.
Clink's eyebrows rose hurriedly, and then she burst into a fit of laughter. July just folded her arms across her chest and shook her head. "Dat explains a couple of t'ings." She remarked.
"Yah!" Ace said with another flash of her perverted grin. "I t'ought me cover was totally blown when Race and I were in da bunk room dat night. Ya know, da lights were all low an' I was kinda drunk..."
"Kinda?!" Clink stated, grasping Copper's shoulder and shaking her lightly. "Didn' she ask us if we would like ta wax her pet platypus so dat she could go into da corn field ta get... get..."
"Avocados." Copper said, trying to maintain a straight face, but only turning a queer shade of pink, instead. "So we could have a mass orgy wit' all da jokers in Race's deck." The last few words were barely gasped out before Copper and Clink both fell into a round of laughter.
July looked down at Ace questioningly, who only looked up at her with another of her smiles. It was amazing how Ace could sustain her own lunacy.
"No, really, Ace." Clink said as soon as she had (somewhat) composed herself. "What ya doin' heah?"
"Damsel, Patch, and Blink were in deir own little woild." Ace said, standing up and brushing herself off. "I was sellin' wit' Damsel, den da next minute I know she sees Blink, and WHAM!" She smacked her hands together for emphasis. "Like a fly to a horses bum."
"I bet!" July said with a light chuckle. "So where'd Patch come from?"
Ace patted July on the back, soothingly. "Ya see, July. When a man loves a woman very much..."
"Aw, can it!" July retorted as she slapped Ace lightly on the shoulder.
Ace laughed and then shrugged. "Patch kinda just showed up an' attached lovin'ly ta Blinky-boy. Den dey flocked ta Irving Hall... so I ditched dem, an' decided to disappear for a few." She explained. Clink yawned dejectedly, and then grinned at Copper who rolled her eyes at her.
"HEY!!" July announced to the group all of a sudden. "We'se goin' ta Medda's!"
"Uh. No we'se not." Copper replied, her eyes widening slightly from fright. Something about Medda scared her. Scared her bad. Maybe it was the fact that the lady liked to stick feathers up people's noses, without even asking permission!
"Yep, yep! We are!" July said, bouncing around excitedly. Clink and Ace looked at each other with "duh" expressions on their faces.
"Why not clue us in," Clink broke in "And tell us WHY would we wanna risk our lives ta go ta Irving Hall?"
"PATCH IS DERE!!" July practically roared into her friend's face. Clink could feel her bangs flying off of her forehead from the force of all of the hot air! ((AN: ooh, so technical, there!))
"And..." Ace egged on, raising an eyebrow.
July sighed heavily, wondering why she put up with such people. "Patch can help me get ta Conlon!" She said exasperatidly.
Clink, Copper, AND Ace all simultaneously slapped their foreheads at the same moment. "AHH!" They complained. July just laughed at them. She couldn't help how she was.
"Okay, fine den. I'se goin', an' dats DAT!" July said, before turning and then walking quickly in the direction of Medda's.
A slight pause took it's place over the three rejected girls as they watched July leave them, to go seek out better ways to get her *cough* man.
"Should we follow her?" Copper asked, watching July make a wide circle away from a bird who was somehow... menacing to her.
"You got any odder plans foah today?" Clink asked with a raised eyebrow. The bird was now squawking at the girl as she began to jog away from it. It kept up by hopping after her, on it's tiny little legs.
Copper smiled to herself. "Well, Davey is pro'lly worried bout me... since I DID get dat table thrown on me."
Ace burst out with a quick laugh and then covered her mouth. "Do I even wanna know?" She asked Copper.
"No." Both Clink and Copper answered with identicle amused smiles.
"Kay, I'se followin' her. Might as well.. I'se broke, anyway." Clink said with a shrug as she walked steadily towards July, who continued to flee from the evil bird.
Copper looked towards Ace, who was oh-so-surprisingly lying down in the newspapers again. "Comin'?" She beckoned.
"Nah, I'se hand 'nough of you guys foah a day!" Ace retorted with her usual smile. "'Sides, I'se tired... see ya when I do." With that, the small girl sighed contentedly before closing her eyes. Sleep felt good!
Copper grinned. Such people she was mixed up in! In a minute she was following Clink and July, to Medda's.
"Clinkery!" Pearl called out as she ran after her friend, the look of fear in her eyes. "CLINK!" Her brown hair flew around her skull as she caught her shorter friend by the shoulders, and tried to hide behind her.
Copper blinked her eyes multiple times and then turned around to face Clink and July questionly, but then noticed their eyes were huge with fright, also. They were of no help to her.
"So. Whats goin' on?" She asked, trying to look Pearl in the eye even though she was still behind her.
"Peeeeaaarrrl!" A childish voice practically screamed as a small boy dashed towards the group. Clutched in his hand was a wooden sword, which he used to jab through the crowds as he ran up the street.
"HOLY crap!!" Clink yelled, running into a doorway. The others followed her without much complaint.
"Why in da name of fish tanks is he followin' ya?!" July hissed to Pearl as she sunk into a corner as if she was a little bug. Pearl just shook her head and shrugged, peering out of the shadows that they were hiding in.
Les stopped in front of the doorway and looked around, frowning to himself as he wondered where his "woman" had gone to. "PEARL!! I wanna PLAY!" He moaned.
Hearing this, both Copper and Clink giggled helplessly, patting Les' little love toy on the back as she sweltered in her own self hate. She watched somberly, as if it were her dying day, as Les finally turned around and skipped off down the street.
"So uh, Pearl." July said with a grin once the coast was clear. The four girls stepped out of the long doorway and into the sunlight. "Hows da lovin' goin'?" Pearl growled lightly and then poked July on the shoulder. "Hey!" July protested, dodging away from another poke.
Clink smiled, looking down the street to see a wooden sword dissapear from view. "What were ya doin' wit' him?" She asked Pearl.
"Davey begged me to take him back home." Pearl muttered, kicking the gravel.
"So how'd ya get here?" Copper asked, pulling on her red curls.
"Da little devil forced me ta take him to da park. So when he was chasing his own shadow an' actin' dumb, I ran to find you guys." She explained, stuffing her hands in her pockets.
Copper frowned. "Personally, I don't see what all da fuss is 'bout. He's a cute kid!"
"You'se just sayin' dat cause you like his broddah!" July accused, as she stuffed her cabby hat on top of her head.
"Yah," Clink agreed with a mischievious smirk. "Just imagine da children... just... like... Les..." At this comment, Pearl groaned lightly.
"Remind me nevah ta babysit foah you!" She said to Copper. Copper's eyes widened as she sputtered questions and confused speech.
"But I... huh, what?! MARRIED!? We ain't even goin' out at ALL, an' you'se talkin' bout... what?!" She muttered, circling around the group.
Clink grinned and patted her on the back. "Time will tell." She said very serenly.
Pearl sighed. "T'anks foah savin' me, guys. But I really need ta go sell da aftahnoon addition if I wanna eat tomorrow... see ya at da house." She waved goodbye and then began walking towards the circulation center.
"Ready foah Irvin' hall?" July asked with a smirk on her face. Clink and Copper looked at each other, sighing inwardly. They had been wishing that she had forgot all about Medda's.
"Yah, shoah." Copper mumbled with a shrug.
"Kay..." Clink drawled, thinking of some sort of diversion. Nothing came up in time.
"Ahright! Lets go, we'se almost dere." July said, excitidly bouncing down the street.
Clink began to mumble incoherently under her breath, while Copper thought of purple feathers and big foo-foo dresses. Whenever she saw Copper, for some reason Medda always wanted to dress her up. It was a nightmare backstage.
After a short walk, the three made it to the big theatre which was Medda's place. Knowing better then to go through the front door (for Medda's sake), they went around the building and entered a back alley, where the backstage door was unlocked. Clink swung the light door open and the three entered the dark room. Music was playing in the background as the act for that night warmed up.
"Okay, Toby, I needja ta lift that... no, not that. YES, that!" Medda ordered as she supervised the scenery change for that night.
"Medda!" July called as she walked over to where Medda stood backstage.
"July, honey! Velcome, dahlings!" Medda said, wrapping July in a perfume cloud of a hug. July sustained herself from gagging as she pulled away from the woman. Medda was wearing a simple dress, yet tight, brown with black seams that reached the floor. Her hair was in a type of system that would make it curly for the night. As soon as the woman talked to her, a Swedish accent seemed to appear from nowhere. "How can I help you, dears?" She asked after hugging both Clink and Copper.
"We hoid dat Patch, Damsel, and Blink were heah?" July asked.
"Yep." Clink agreed out of no where, rubbing her hand over her nose so she couldn't sneeze anymore. The perfume was getting to her allergies.
"Oh, of course!" Medda exclaimed flutteringly, as she twittled her hands in the air. "Why else would you be here?"
"Got dat roight." Copper muttered under her breath, before raising her head and grinning a fake grin to the woman before her.
"So, deir heah?" July asked, nudging Copper in the ribs so that the strained smile disapeared.
"Why, yes! Upstairs in the balcony room. I think they're trying on clothes... I could be wrong." Medda